Our Donors define economic self-sufficiency as the point at which a youth or parent can consistently cover his or her basic costs of living without government subsidy or financial aid. Within the US, the benchmark for economic self-sufficiency is 300% of FPL or the approximate equivalent of 110% of average state-wide Median Household Income. In Canada, the benchmark is 200% of LICO or MBM for a given location. Under extraordinary circumstances, an applicant can articulate another relevant measure to verify the target population being served has yet to attain economic self-sufficiency.

Applicants should articulate the process by which income is verified.

Applicants should be able to verify at least 80% of those served have not yet attained economic self-sufficiency

Savings and assets are encouraged. Populations only become ineligible when savings and assets exceed the equivalent of three months of income at the FPL/LICO thresholds noted above.

In special circumstances, when a higher income threshold is appropriate, or an alternate measure is being used, applicants should provide a clear rationale for doing so.

Children are 17 years or younger.

Youth are 18 to 30 years of age.

Parents are the person or persons actively caring for a child or children, which can include guardians, custodians, foster parents and others not related to the child.

Families are one or two parents or guardians with dependent children age 18 and younger; pregnant mothers; and, when family reunification is a focus, parents who have lost custody of their children.

Efforts designed to benefit a universal audience or target population other than listed here are not eligible for Donor support.

Giving Immediate Assistance to people who are economically disadvantaged, vulnerable, sick or facing an immediate threat

Our Donors define economic self-sufficiency as the point at which a youth or parent can consistently cover his or her basic costs of living without government subsidy or financial aid. Within the US, the benchmark for economic self-sufficiency is 300% of FPL or the approximate equivalent of 110% of average state-wide Median Household Income. In Canada, the benchmark is 200% of LICO or MBM for a given location. Under extraordinary circumstances, an applicant can articulate another relevant measure to verify the target population being served has yet to attain economic self-sufficiency.

Applicants should articulate the process by which income is verified.

Applicants should be able to verify at least 80% of those served have not yet attained economic self-sufficiency

Savings and assets are encouraged. Populations only become ineligible when savings and assets exceed the equivalent of three months of income at the FPL/LICO thresholds noted above.

In special circumstances, when a higher income threshold is appropriate, or an alternate measure is being used, applicants should provide a clear rationale for doing so.

People facing an immediate threat including those fleeing violence or at risk of harming themselves or others, for whom income data is not available and seeking verification of income would be inappropriate.

People facing significant barriers to care and in need of immediate assessment and referral, where income verification may be perceived as another barrier to care.

People facing issues such as homelessness where economic disadvantage is assumed and it is not necessary to formally verify income.

Efforts designed to benefit a universal audience or target population other than listed here are not eligible for Donor support.

Applied Social Science & Health Research in support of our Donors’ vision

By their very nature, applied research initiatives are designed to test a hypothesis or provide the evidence base for a program or prototype. Positive change in behavior or condition of the participant should be the goal.

All research projects must be connected to the broader Investment Framework which supports economically disadvantaged people to move toward health, education and self-sufficiency.

Economically Disadvantaged Families

Our Donors define economic self-sufficiency as the point at which a youth or parent can consistently cover his or her basic costs of living without government subsidy or financial aid. Within the US, the benchmark for economic self-sufficiency is 300% of FPL or the approximate equivalent of 110% of average state-wide Median Household Income. In Canada, the benchmark is 200% of LICO or MBM for a given location. Under extraordinary circumstances, an applicant can articulate another relevant measure to verify the target population being served has yet to attain economic self-sufficiency.

Applicants should articulate the process by which income is verified.

Applicants should be able to verify at least 80% of those served have not yet attained economic self-sufficiency

Savings and assets are encouraged. Populations only become ineligible when savings and assets exceed the equivalent of three months of income at the FPL/LICO thresholds noted above.

In special circumstances, when a higher income threshold is appropriate, or an alternate measure is being used, applicants should provide a clear rationale for doing so.

Parents are the person or persons actively caring for a child or children, which can include guardians, custodians, foster parents and others not related to the child.

Families are one or two parents or guardians with dependent children age 18 and younger; pregnant mothers; and, when family reunification is a focus, parents who have lost custody of their children.

Efforts designed to benefit a universal audience or target population other than listed here are not eligible for Donor support.

Defined geographic areas acknowledged to be economically disadvantaged including cities, towns, neighbourhoods or regions designated by the federal, provincial/state, or municipal government as an identified high needs area (e.g. Promise Zone) or with some other external verification of economic disadvantage.

Disadvantaged remote and isolated, rural communities with limited access to services and defined by lower population levels (typically 10,000 or fewer residents), reduced population density and verified indicators of economic disadvantage.

Community-driven, multi-sectoral partnerships or issue-driven community-led initiatives designed to address an issue relevant to the Donors’ Investment Framework.

Nonprofit and Sector Serving Organizations

Sector-serving umbrella organizations whose mission is to improve sectoral effectiveness and/or encourage philanthropy. These organizations typically do not provide direct service to individuals and may include United Ways, community foundations and nonprofit management or consulting organizations and associations.

Nonprofit organizations that have content or issue expertise and are working to scale proven models and improve sector practice.

Preference is given to organizations serving charities working in areas connected to the broader Investment Framework and contributing to our Donors’ vision.

Preserving Freedom & Liberty for a free and prosperous society

Public policy initiatives ultimately benefit a general or more broadly defined target population and are more universal in nature.

Public policy projects often first identify a target audience. Indicators of influence on a specific target audience are valid outcomes that provide evidence of incremental progress toward an intended positive change.

Within the public policy arena, projects should connect to at least one of three specific subcategories of interest: free markets and free enterprise, individual rights and democracy, and equality before the law.